Niecy Nash-Betts on GLAAD Media Awards Honor, Teases Grotesquerie Show

Niecy Nash-Betts will take the GLAAD Media Awards stage in Los Angeles on March 14, bringing the Emmy Award-winning actress again into the group’s fold after she hosted the present in 2021. On the time, the veteran star of such exhibits as Reno 911! and Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story was recent from revealing to the world that she’d married musician Jessica Betts, and since then, Nash-Betts has, in her phrases, lived her life out, proud and with completely no disgrace. The couple was featured on the duvet of Essence — a primary within the journal’s 50-year historical past — and performed lovers on broadcast tv courtesy of Nash-Betts’ collection The Rookie: Feds. Now, the actress will obtain the Stephen F. Kolzak Award for serving to increase the visibility of LGBTQ individuals and points. THR caught up with the 54-year-old over Zoom to debate falling in love, profitable an Emmy and sharing the stage with fellow GLAAD honoree (and buddy) Oprah Winfrey.

When GLAAD supplied you this award, how did that really feel and why did you say sure?

I used to be like, “Who, me?” I don’t dwell my life in a method that claims: If I do that, individuals will acknowledge me or I’ll obtain accolades. I simply dwell. I select myself on daily basis. I belief my reward and, in these areas, and locations, the accolades, the honour, the awards come. Each time my head is about to pop off, I’m like, “Someone needs to honor me? For what? Being myself and dwelling my life out loud?” I’ll take it each time. 

When you concentrate on how a lot your life has modified over these previous virtually 4 years because you married Jessica, how do you qualify that?

I really feel richer. And, if I’m being sincere, actually and figuratively. I’m not going to let you know that I’ve by no means been liked earlier than, however being liked the best way that makes you’re feeling fully satiated is a special factor. Being liked in a method the place you’re fully open and totally seen is a special factor, and it’s in these areas and locations that permits me to thrive in my enterprise and in my skilled life. Its is certainly a scrumptious double dip.

You’ve stated earlier than that Jessica’s love feels “customized,” and that your marriage has completely nothing to do with gender. Inform me about that.

Nobody can let you know who or what you’re, it’s a really particular person factor. I simply don’t lean into labels, possibly in a method that conventional norms say it’s best to. I’m Black, I’m a mom and I’m a lover. These are my labels. The remainder of it’s but unfolding. The factor that we’re created for is the factor we battle with probably the most, and that’s love. Letting others inform us what that ought to be, how that ought to be or when that ought to be is a really particular person factor. In the event you would’ve requested me 5 years in the past if I might’ve noticed myself married to a lady, I might’ve stated, “Who? Not me. I’m strictly dickly in these streets.” That’s actual speak.

Then I met probably the most stunning soul I’ve ever met in my life, and I stated, “Now, wait a minute.” Issues accomplished change. Gender is the least of those. I don’t care about that. I don’t care in regards to the outer wrapping. It doesn’t matter to me. It’s the coronary heart and the soul of a person that I really feel fully drawn to in a method that I’ve by no means felt about anybody. I didn’t dwell a sexually repressed life.

When that shift got here, you would’ve chosen to step again and nurture that love in non-public however as an alternative you embraced it out within the open. How has it been navigating these new areas?

Right here’s the factor: I’ll let you know I’m numerous issues, however the one factor I’ve by no means been is disgrace. Something I do, I do it out loud. Something I do, I do it for myself first. If the lots catch it, good for you. There wasn’t an area inside me that may’ve stated, “Love and keep small love. Love and keep non-public. Love and hold it to your self and your shut pals.” I stated, “Let’s go.” Loving Jessica out loud has been as pure as respiratory. I might by no means inform somebody, “I’m in love with you, however I can’t inform anybody about you. I’m in love with you, however I need to hold it non-public.” That’s foolishness to me. We did break the web with our marriage. We have been the primary similar intercourse couple to cowl Essence in 52 years of the journal. We hosted GLAAD Awards collectively. We have been on a broadcast tv community as lovers. We’ve accomplished many issues and had many firsts and so far as I’m involved accurately.

Do you keep in mind the primary LGBTQ particular person you noticed in popular culture?

I believe it was on an episode of Maude, which was like a thousand years in the past, and I keep in mind listening to my mother and father speak about it. All people was sort of clutching their pearls. It’s attention-grabbing to consider it now as a result of there’s a moniker within the Black neighborhood, being referred to as “auntie.” As an auntie who had at all times been in opposite-sex relationships, individuals already had an affinity towards me. Then to fall in love with a same-sex companion — I distinctly keep in mind about 3,000 individuals unfollowing me and about 30,000 began following me. That claims to me that folks felt seen. We’ve so many issues on the planet, love shouldn’t be certainly one of ’em. 

The place do you stand on the controversy in Hollywood of who ought to be allowed to play what roles?

To be sincere with you, I’m an artist first. The place I lay my head has nothing to do with my artwork. I’ve pals who’re homosexual/queer males who play heterosexual males. Do you say, “Oh no, it’s best to solely get straight males to play straight males”? No. However one way or the other on the subject of the reverse, it turns into a dialog, like, “Solely queer individuals ought to play queer individuals.” Artwork is artwork and let the artwork go forth and communicate for itself and let the artwork do what the artwork will do.

You referred to as your self an artist and I’ll add to that, a embellished, award-winning artist. The place do you retain your trophies?

I’ve a media room and the vast majority of my trophies are in there. I’m talking to you from what I name my “closet,” and I see two awards sitting proper throughout from me. I’ve my final Emmy proper on the entrance door, and a few within the household room. I’ve awards in every single place on this home besides the kitchen.

You can put your GLAAD award within the kitchen. How has your life modified because you gained the Emmy?

For me, that evening solidified for my friends that I’m not only a one-trick pony. I could make you chuckle, I could make you cry, and I obtained the {hardware} to show it. 

On the awards, you’ll share a stage with fellow honoree Oprah Winfrey — what does she imply to you?

So far as I’m involved, there’s God, then Oprah, after which the Obamas. We’ve fellowshipped many occasions, however my favourite time must be going to her property in Maui. We went on a two-hour hike collectively. It was simply the 2 of us, and it modified my life without end. I keep in mind having the chance not too long ago to inform her how a lot that point collectively charted a special course for my life and put me in an area and a spot that I’ll without end be thankful for. 

You set the web on hearth on Feb. 23, when the Grotesquerie teaser dropped on social media, marking a reunion with Ryan Murphy. What are you able to say about this new horror entry?

What I can say is that I’ve by no means performed this character earlier than. I can say that Ryan Murphy is a genius. I can say that Ryan Murphy will without end have me at hi there. This collection goes to be so scrumptious to followers of Ryan and followers of mine. I might coin it as a satiating darkness that it’s important to bear witness to. 

This story first appeared within the March 14 challenge of LeslyNewsMagazine journal. Click on right here to subscribe.